Pneumatically balanced valve



Oct. 18, 1932. s. R. WARREN PNEUMATICALLY BALANCED VALVE Filed Dec. 24, 1931 5 6 M mm mm C 3 um fl afw Z r J 9 Zhwentor (Ittorneg Patented Oct. 18, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE T SAMUEL RUSSELL WARREN, OF BRATTLEBORO, VERMONT, ASSIGNOR TO ESTEY ORGAN COMPANY, OF BRATTLEBORO, VERMONT, A CORPORATION OF VERMONT PNEUMATICALLY BALANCED VALVE Application filed December 24, 1931. Serial No. 583,093.

The pneumatically balanced valve which isthe paramount feature of the present invention is capable of use in numerous situations but it has special utility in connection with pipe organs and particularly with those which are electrically controlled. The invention will, therefore, be described in detail as employed in a pipe organ for the purpose of controlling the admission of air under 1Q pressure to the organ pipes.

In the accompanying drawing Fig. 1' is a vertical section of a wind chamber of an organ equipped with the improved valve. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the valve mechanism showing the valve directly actuated by an electromagnet.

As shown in the drawing A is a wind chamber containing air under pressure whenever the pipes connected therewith are to be sounded. The foot of a pipe is shown at B. Within the wind chamber is a valve mechanism for each pipe which comprises a valve casing G preferably formed of bakelite which is fastened beneath the top of the wind chamber by screws 1 so that its interior D is in communication with the foot of the pipe as shown in Fig. 1.

The walls of the valve casing have two oppositely disposed apertures 2 and 3, best shown in Fig. 2, which open into the Wind chamber.

Cooperating with these two apertures is the pneumatically balanced valve which consists of two padded pallets E and F connected together by a valve stem 4; so that they always move equally together. The valve stem is supported and guided by two bridges 5 and 6 which cross the apertures 2 and 3 but are so narrow, as shown in Fig. 2, as not materially to diminish the air flow capacity of the apertures. One of the pallets F is arranged within the valve casing so as to seat against the margins of the aperture 3 to close the same and prevent any flow of air therethrough between the pipe and the wind chamber. The second pallet E is outside of the valve casing and seats against the margins of the aperture 2 so as to close such aperture and to prevent air passage there through. Normally the two pallets close their respective apertures as illustrated in Fig. 2 and in full lines in Fig. 1 and are maintained norm-ally in this position by a coiled spring G surrounding the valve stem and bearing against the pallet F and the bridge 5 at its opposite ends. This spring is a light one because it only has to be strong enough to overcome the inertia of the valve and its attached parts for the purpose of closing the pallets. This lightness of the spring is permitted because the air pressure is the same on both pallets being exerted in opposite directions. That is to say, when the valve is closed the air pressure tends to open the pallet F while at the same time it tends to close the pallet E. These two opposite tendencies counteract each other so that the compound valve is pneumatically balanced and therefore a light spring sufiices to close the two pallets and to maintain them closed.

This balanced characteristic of the valve adapts it peculiarly to organ practice and especially when the Valve is eletrically controlled.

Assuming that an aperture were round and closed by a circular pallet, a movement of the pallet a distance equal to one-fourth the diam eter of the aperture would be sufficient to utilize the maximum capacity of the aperture as a wind way. Indeed, in the present instance the movement would be somewhat less than one-fourth of the aperture diameter be cause its eiiective area is reduced by the bridge for the valve stem. But when the valve is a double valve having two connected pallets opening two apertures simultaneously the extent of movement is reduced one-half in order to supply the full requisite volume of wind to the organ pipe. Assuming that a movement of one-fourth of an inch would be required for a single aperture with one pallet then a movement of only one-eighth of an inch would be required to provide the requisite wind way with the two connected pallets. This small range of movement taken in connection with the pneumatic balance makes it practicable to employ adirect action controlling electro-magnet H as illustrated in Fig. 3. Such a direct electric action was in direct communication with described in the Gauntlet English Patent No. 14,222, July 15, 1852, but it was not practicable except for small pipes because of the power required for a large magnet capable of moving a pallet of sufficient capacity to supply wind to one of the large pipes of an organ. But with the present improved valve such direct electric action is feasible for a large range of pipe sizes since only small electromagnets requiring a minimum current need be used.

As shown in Fig. 3 the valve stem has secured to it by a set screw 7 an iron armature I padded on its outer face so as to eliminate noise when attracted by the electromagnet H. The gap between the armature and magnet poles is of a minimum distance because of the small travel required by the double valve in supplying the necessary wind. Also, because of the balanced character of the valve, only su'llicient electric force is required to overcome the inertia of the valve, its stem and the armature and the slight stress of the restoring spring. The restoring spring has its smallest tension when the valve is closed thus minimizing the amount of work initially required by the magnet when energized. The balanced double valve is hence of special utility when operatively connected with an armature and when combined with a direct electric action.

As illustrated in Fig. 3 the electromagnet His mounted upon a bridge 8 fastened to two projecting supporting arms 9, 9, constituting part of the valve casing. The valve casing together with the electromagnet and the valve mechanism constitutes a single unit attachable to and detachable from the wind chamher.

In connection with the very large pipes employed in organs which require a large volume of air it may not be expedient to employ direct electric action because of the large current requirement and in such case it is convenient to employ an intervening pneumatic J as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. As here shown. the valve stem is secured to the movable board of the pneumatic and the interior of the pneunntic communicates by means of a channel 10 with two air ports 11 and 12. The air port 11 communicates with the interior of the wind chamber while the air port 12 is a vent to the atmosphere. These air ports are controlled by an armature K padded on both faces to prevent noise and ensure an air tight closure.

7 Normally this armature closes the vent 12 by reason of the wind chamber air pressure so that the interior of the pneumatic is then the wind chamber and is pneumatically balanced. Ac cordingly, the bellows of the pneumatic is expanded and the double valve is maintained closed by the spring G. When, however, the electromagnet L is energized by the depression of the corresponding organ key and the armature K is attracted by the poles of the magnet the air supply port 11 is closed and the vent 12 is opened. This reduces the air pressure within the pnematic to that of the open atmosphere; and, since the exterior of the pneumatic is exposed to the air pressure within the wind chamber, the pneumatic is collapsed and its movable board moves to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1, its movement in this direction, being limited by the cushioning felt stops 13. This collapsible movement of the pneumatic is participated in by the double valve and, accordingly, the apertures 2, 3, are opened to the required extent. The stops limit this movement just enough to permit the requisite wind flow to the pipe. When the flow of current through the magnet L ceases the air pressure moves the armature K to close the vent 12 so that air under pressure again flows into the interior of the pneumatic so that it is pneumatically balanced with equal pressure within and without. Thereupon the spring G moves the two pallets to their seats carrying with them the movable board of the pneumatic. In this case the spring must be sufliciently strong to move the parts of the pneumatic as well as the pallets and the valve stem.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the pneumatic is mounted on a bridge 14 fastened to supporting arms 9 of the valve casing. This bridge is hollowed to constitute a part of the air channel 10 leading from the pneumatic to the air ports. In this case, as in the case of the construction of Fig. 3, the valve casing, the valve mechanism and the pneumatic constitute a single unit which as such can be attached to or detached from the wind chamber.

The armature K rests loosely in the bottom of the air channel 10. No spring is required to move it away from the magnet, the air pressure being sutlicient.

Fig. 1 illustrates diagrammatically the electrical connections between a conventionally illustrated organ key 15, and the magnet L, including a switch 16 and source of v the magnet without the necessity of any intervening relays and valves. Room within the wind chamber is thus conserved.

The improved valve mechanism can be used in other parts of the organ, and can be usefully employed to control the flow of air in other types of apparatus.

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I claim 1. A pipe organ having, in combination, a wind chamber; a pipe; a valve casing within the wind chamber having its interior in communication with said pipe, and having two apertures in its Walls which permit air to flow between the wind chamber and the pipe; a pneumatically balanced double valve having two connected pallets for said apertures respectively one of said pallets being within and the other without the valve casing whereby the air pressure tends to open one pallet and close the other; a light spring serving to close and maintain closed both pallets; an armature operatively connected with said valve; and an electromagnet mounted on said valve casing and acting when energized to open both pallets.

2. A pipe organ having, in combination, a wind chamber; a pipe; a valve casing having its interior in communication with said pipe, and having two apertures in its walls which permit air to flow between the wind chamber and the pipe; a pneumatically balanced double valve having two connected pallets for said apertures respectively one of said pallets being Within and the other without the valve casing whereby the air pressure tends to open one pallet and close the other; a light spring serving to close and maintain closed both pallets; an armature operatively connected with said valve; and an electromagnet acting when energized to open both pallets.

3. A pipe organ having, in combination, a wind chamber; a pipe; a valve casing within the wind chest having its interior in communication with said pipe, and having two apertures in its walls which permit air to flow between the wind chamber and the pipe; a pneumatically balanced double valve having two connected pallets for said apertures respectively the air pressure tending to open one pallet and close the other; a spring serving to close and maintain closed both pallets; and an armature operatively connected with said valve; and an electromagnet acting when energized to open both pallets.

4. A pipe organ having, in combination, a wind chamber; a pipe; a valve casing within the wind chest having its interior in communication with said pipe, and having two apertures which permit air to flow between the wind chamber and the pipe; a pneumatically balanced double valve having two pallets for said apertures respectively the air pressure tending to open one pallet and close the other; a spring serving to close and maintain closed both pallets; and means for siinultaneously moving and opening said palets.

5. A valve casing having two apertures to permit air to enter the casing; a pneumatically balanced double valve having two pallets for said apertures respectively, air pressure tending to open one pallet and close the other; a spring serving to close and maintain closed both pallets; and means for simulta neously moving and opening said pallets.

6. A pneumatically balanced double valve having two pallets for controlling the passage of air through respective apertures, air pressure tending to open one pallet and close the other; and means for simultaneously opening and closing said pallets.

SAMUEL RUSSELL WARREN. 

